Search For Mother Continues Following Discovery Of Sons’ Bodies At Ha’Penny Beach

ST. CROIX — Tragedy rocked the U.S. Virgin Islands today, as the V.I.P.D. has confirmed that it has found the bodies of two minor boys who police believe are the sons of 24-year-old Lyana Serieux. The bodies were found at the Ha’Penny Beach on the south shore this morning at 11:35 a.m. by a landscaper; they were described as “badly decomposed” by V.I.P.D. Public Information Glen Dratte, a description reiterated by Police Commissioner Delroy Richards and Territorial Police Chief Winsbut McFarland at a second press briefing held at the V.I.P.D.’s Mars Hill complex this afternoon.

The boys, 10-year-old Jordan Serieux and 5-year-old Jeremiah Serieux, had gone missing with their mother since Friday. They were last seen in a 2011 Silver Toyota Yaris with license plate number is CFR 304, which Mr. Richards said this afternoon has been confirmed to be the vehicle that Ms. Serieux drove. It was found badly burned in Upper Love, according to Police Commissioner Delroy Richards.

While the V.I.P.D. was still awaiting forensic details, the force was near certain that the bodies found were the deceased sons of Ms. Serieux. Chief McFarland said the force has some leads that it’s following, but chose not to divulge more information. “We do have our theories, but as we go along we’ll put it together and make it work,” Chief McFarland said.

Acting Governor Osbert Potter, who joined the press briefing along with Mr. Richards via video conference from St. Thomas, decried the incident, and expressed confidence that those involved would be brought to justice. Mr. Richards, thinking of his own children, condemned the killings, and expressed faith in the V.I.P.D.’s ability to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“We’re going to leave no stones unturned; this is hideous,” Mr. Richards said. “Today, what we dreaded the most after we found the vehicle is the fact that the bodies of the youngsters were found in that vicinity of the Ha’Penny Bay area.”

Chief McFarland was also emotional: “This is not gang war or thugs… these are two innocent children that lost their lives over some ignorance by somebody — I don’t even know what to call them,” Chief McFarland said. ”

The incident was first reported to police on Sunday by Ms. Serieux’s mother, who called 911 to report that her daughter was missing. Family members were attempting to make contact with Ms. Serieux on their own, but determined that they needed help after their efforts proved futile, according to Mr. Richards. He said the last time Ms. Serieux and her children were seen by her family was on Friday in Frederiksted. She was believed to be heading home at the time, the commissioner added.

An active search is currently ongoing for Ms. Serieux. Both police and community volunteers have dispatched around the island. Federal agents are involved in the case on a limited basis, and were to provide support with an aerial search effort using a helicopter.

The killings of the young boys have rocked St. Croix to its core. Social media is flooded with posts of all sorts. Some people were emotional, others angry and some heartbroken as to why 10 and 5-year-old boys were murdered.

Local artist Nikki Brookes took to Facebook in a live video, her hurt vivid on her countenance and her words exposing her pain, as she called on Virgin Islanders to stop the senseless killings.

“What the hell did this 10-year-old little boy and this 5-year-old little boy do?” Ms. Brooks asked with tears flowing down her face. “These people have family members… “This isn’t an old person that died; this is a person that didn’t even get to graduate from junior high; this is a person that [didn’t ] get to know their potential.”

According to V.I.P.D. Chief Investigator Lieutenant Naomi Joseph, Ms. Serieux had filed a restraining order against an ex-boyfriend, but she later removed it. Lt. Joseph also confirmed that Ms. Serieux graduated from the University of the Virgin Islands with a bachelors of arts degree. She had applied to become a police officer, but that had not worked out. Asked about the boys’ father, Lt. Joseph said the children were registered as having none.

The V.I.P.D. is pleading with anyone who may have information about the incident to call 340-778-2211. Mr. Richards said there has been talk of offering a financial reward, but a decision had yet to be made. The commissioner urged residents concerned about anonymity to send their information anonymously to Crime Stoppers USVI through the organization’s online portal here. No identifying information is required.